January, 2015
January 8th, 2015, 7:41 p.m. - The fact that it took me so long to read a 200-page book doesn't bode well for the rest of the year
1. Wolf in White Van (John Darnielle)
Up next: No One Else Can Have You (Kathleen Hale)
January 11th, 2015, 4:01 p.m. - "Look at us. Just three people with pants on, having a normal conversation"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Beach House": Vacation Terry is awesome! I also enjoyed Four- and Five-Drink Amy. Season 2 Amy is a lot more likable than Season 1 Amy. Rating: 5 fanny packs
Modern Family – "The Day We Almost Died": Some of the plots needed more development, but overall this was good. I especially liked the callback to the original alpaca named Jolene. Rating: 4 dropped phones
The Big Bang Theory – "The Space Probe Disintegration": What was the point of Penny and Amy making the guys go shopping with them? Why don't they hang out separately if they can't all agree on something to do? Also, does Howard ever shut up? Rating: 3 purses
January 13th, 2015, 9:33 p.m. - This makes up for how slowly I read the last one
2. No One Else Can Have You (Kathleen Hale)
Up next: One Kick (Chelsea Cain)
January 17th, 2015, 4:33 p.m. - "Fiz-no!"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Payback": I liked Jake's plot, but Amy and Holt's could have used more development. And I'm sad that Jake sold his car. Maybe he'll be able to get it back in the future. Rating: 4 horrible baby-name suggestions
Modern Family – "The Big Guns": Still loving the neighbors. I would watch a spin-off with them. Rating: 5 boats
January 21st, 2015, 7:48 p.m. - I have to wait how long for the sequel?
3. One Kick (Chelsea Cain)
Up next: The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins)
January 24th, 2015, 3:22 p.m. - Shut up, Metatron
Supernatural – "The Hunter Games": Bleh. We waited weeks for this? Can't they go visit Cain or something? Rating: 3 axes
January 27th, 2015, 8:02 p.m. - The next Gone Girl? Yes, if you're going purely off of unlikable characters
4. The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins)
Up next: Heartsick (Chelsea Cain)
January 31st, 2015, 2:24 p.m. - "You hit like a girl who never learned how to hit"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Defense Rests": Parnell! Love Parnell. Especially love Parnell plus Sedgwick plus Root. This show has excellent guest stars. Rating: 4 gazpachos
Supernatural – "There's No Place Like Home": Almost perfect, just a little too heavy-handed with the parallels between Dean and Charlie. This was the first time I've felt like they've really used Felicia Day to her best abilities. I'm hoping we'll see her again this season. Rating: 4 pieces of kale
The Big Bang Theory – "The Anxiety Optimization": Emily or Cinnamon? was inspired. I'd love to see it resurface. Rating: 4 electrodes
Scandal – "Run": I mostly liked the episode, though Olivia should have been smarter and caught on earlier. It was very Alias-esque. I also spent the whole episode trying to figure out who the "five minutes" guy was, and eventually found out that he was Charles on Grey's Anatomy, which I never would have remembered on my own. Shonda sure likes to have that guy shot, huh? Rating: 4 pipe rings
I liked Darnielle's writing more than the story, though the story was also good. It felt like he picked every word carefully and crafted everything meticulously. Keep in mind that he was a musician before he became an author. There are tons of writers who could take a lesson from him.
It's not that well-written, it doesn't know if it's a mystery or a dark comedy, the idea of a 16-year-old and a 21-year-old together creeped me out, and half of the characters were caricatures. And yet...I wanted to keep reading. Hale has a lot of potential but needs much more work to be a great writer. Writing-wise, this isn't good, though Hale has a few clever phrases. Plot-wise, it almost works. With more experience, Hale would make me want more from her.
Years ago, I read Cain's debut, Heartsick, and wasn't impressed, so I didn't pick up any of her later books. When I saw that One Kick had made a bunch of best-of-2014 lists, I looked at the plot summary and thought it sounded interesting. Then I promptly forgot all about it. When I spotted it at the library recently, I decided to give it a try. Long story short (...okay, not really), I devoured it and can't wait to read the next in the series. And I'll be going back to Cain's other books to see if they're better than I remembered.
Soooooo overhyped. Also deserves a ticket from the Grammar Police.